The Unexpected Princess (Completed)

Chapter 14

It was still light out when Naledi climbed up the mountain to her favourite hiding place. Even Dineo didn’t know about this little lip in the mountain with a stone roof that over looked the farm lands on the other side of the village. It was her own little spot that provided a sanctuary and a time out from everyone.

Today she needed it more than any other day.

She sat down on the hard ground and stared out into the open fields of green vegetation and neatly ploughed rows. It was a sublime view that made her wish she was a painter. She would capture it for all time, Naledi thought wistfully. She took a deep breath appreciating each inhale.

The air was always fresh here and it soothed the soul. Naledi hoped it would heal her and make her forget everything for just a little while.

She closed her eyes, and willed her mind to be still. But her sore hands and knees wouldn’t let her drift.

Naledi stared at her hands and notice the calluses that had formed over the hours she had spent cleaning. They were red, swollen and painful to the touch. She didn’t think she was going to make it. And it has only been one day. She didn’t want to even imagine herself after a month.

She folded her hands into tight fists, testing it out. She winced at the pressure, but the pain seemed to lessen as she unfolded her hand.

She will get used to it, she told herself

There was nothing she couldn’t do if she put her mind to it. She smiled to herself, her worries already falling to the back of her mind.

She loved this place. She closed her eyes and breathed the fresh mountain air again. A soothing emotion unfurled within her. She reached for the peace, wishing to wrap it around her mind and soul.

Her eyes flew open as the maids’ words filtered in her mind uninvited. Naledi breathed deep as the pain she’d felt slashed throw her. Words did hurt, she thought fighting for the peace she had experienced a few minutes ago. She wished she could hold on it when she did return down the mountain.

But for now, she’ll enjoy it whether it lasted or not. Naledi closed her eyes listening to the other noises she hadn’t paid attention to. Birds chirped close by, tree leaves rustled as wild animals scurried about, and the wind whispered around her drawing her deep into her mind.

The distant bark of a dog interrupted her reverie. Naledi’s eyes shot open. She looked around her. She’d never known dogs to come this far up the mountain. For as long as she came there she’d never heard a dog bark. She heard movement close to her as a snuffling sound came close to her ear. She turned scooting to her feet as she came face to face with large brown eyes on a furry face. The dog was overly big and had a blend of black and brown fur that streaked down its body like a Zebra's.

It was the ugliest dog she’s ever seen.

“You scared me,” she said to the dog. The dog lolled its tongue and winked at her. “Yeah, right. How did you get up here anyway?”

The dog silently stared at her, showing no sign of going away.

“Well, you can’t stay here. This is my spot.” Naledi sat down to show that she was not going anywhere.

“I think we found it first.” Sello said as he pulled himself onto the lip of the mountain. He stared at the stunning woman sitting there. His breath hitched in his throat as he recognized her immediately. She was the woman Anthony had chosen for himself to marry. No wonder Anthony had gone rogue on his father. She was stunning up close, a princess cloaked in the apparel of servitude.

“If it isn’t the unexpected princess.”

“What?” Naledi stomach squeezed painfully at the man’s word. His words hurt worse because she knew who he was. He was Anthony….the prince’s, she needed to get used to saying that. He was the prince’s cousin. Naledi has seen him numerous times at the royal house.

She didn’t think she could handle another form of ridicule from another person, let alone a person who was close to the situation, was part of the royal family like he was.

Naledi looked down feeling embarrassed.

He must have heard everything straight from the prince’s mouth, Naledi thought as she got to her feet. She couldn’t stay in his presence any longer. She had to leave. She felt small and ashamed.

“Where are you going?” Sello was quick to ask. He noticed her darkening face the minute he’d called her a princess. He wondered what had brought that look to her face.

“It’s getting late. I think I should leave.” She said staring down the mountain.

It was late, Sello noticed as he looked around them. The sun was making its final dip over the mountain to bathe the land below in darkness.

They had better get down while there was still light to see or else they will break something, Sello thought.

“Yes, it is. Would you mind if I accompanied you down?”

Naledi stared at him. She wasn’t sure what to say. He seemed sincere in his request but…

“It’s just… its getting late and I wouldn’t feel good if I left a young woman like yourself to make her way down there in the dark,” he smiled at her. His smile transformed his whole face. Naledi had always thought of him as a brooding young man who had seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.

But now he looked bright, open and very handsome. He reminded her of Anthony, there were similarities between both men that made Naledi, for split second, feel like she was standing next to the prince.

She gasped taking a step back.

She definitely didn’t want to be around him anymore. But she knew she couldn’t avoid people who reminded her of Anthony. If she couldn’t, it would mean she couldn’t work for the chief anymore, because he was more like his son – his bearing and looks.

Naledi swallowed hard and then agreed to his request with a nod. She could get through this as well. Nothing was going to beat her.

“I swear every time I climb up here I forget the journey back. It’s tricky to go downhill.” He laughed as he navigated the downward slope. His dog bounced in front of them like it was nothing. The dog looked like it was having the time of its life. It stopped here and there, sniffing bushes and rocks.

“Yes,” Naledi agreed as she followed. Her breaths came quick and shallow. “But the view up there is worth it.”

“I agree.”

They made their way down in silence until they came to a spot where the mountain leveled out slightly and they could walk side by side. Naledi looked around her to see if anyone saw her. She didn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea about her.

‘She couldn’t manage to snare the prince of Ga-Tloung, so she set her sights on the cousin.’ She could almost hear them whisper behind her back.

The thought froze her to the spot, fear paralyzing her.

“You know what, thank you for walking with me but I think I can make it home now,” she said walking away from him as quickly as she could.

“He didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Naledi came to a stop at his words. She turned to him intending to tell him a piece of her mind. Anger surged within her. Who was he to presume what the prince did or didn’t intend to do?

She was hurting, couldn’t he see that?

“If you don’t believe anything, believe that. He was taken by something. I can’t say I blame him.”

Naledi swallowed hard gritting her teeth, because she had felt it too. The attraction, the recognition and the sudden feeling of belonging. Her anger subsided.

“Did he tell you that?” Naledi asked not sure why she needed to know that. What difference would it make whether he wanted to hurt her or not. She was hurting all the same. The people down there didn’t want her, and she was working herself to the bone just to keep the legacy going. He’d destroyed her entire life, and then left her to it.

“Not in so many words.”

Naledi nodded. So he didn’t say it. His cousin was trying to make her feel better. She took a step down the mountain, but stopped when he spoke again.

“He’s not like any other man. I’m sure you’ve noticed that,” Sello said. He didn’t know what he was doing. But he couldn’t let the chips fall as they will. Anthony deserved happiness and he was going to make sure he got it. Most people misunderstood him. Just because he didn’t express his emotions they thought he was happy, but he knew better. There was something missing in the prince’s life, something he claimed he didn’t believe in, but he craved it none the less. Love.

And she was standing right in front of him. He needed to get them together.

Naledi shook her head, “I…I don’t think I can talk about this. I hardly know him.”

“I know. Just don’t give up on him. He chose you for a reason.” Sello said leaving her standing there. He walked in the opposite direction. His dog followed its master switching its tail happily.

Naledi stared after them. Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest. She refused to go down that road. She wished he’d never chosen her. She would have gone her whole life without knowing that her heart could beat a million times per second, her body could turn to flames and burn with desire so hot she could come without anyone touching her. She wouldn’t have known the exhilaration, the joy and warmth that came with him just stepping into a room.

She wouldn’t have known.

She would have thought she was missing something in her life, and not known how it felt. Knowing and thinking something were two different things.

She wouldn’t have known, Naledi thought sniffing back tears that had gathered in her eyes.

She turned and walked down the mountain.